I have an Orange OB1-300 Combo that sounds great, but I leave it at church all the time. I needed something for a Sunday afternoon jam band I play with so I bought the Ampeg BA-115v2 and it totally rocks! I tried the rumble at the store and it did nothing for me. Went back to the Ampeg, loved it, bought it.
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Need some amp advice
- Thread starter trenken
- Start date
I'd go with the biggest amp, wattage-wise, that you can afford. I've found out that it's better to it and not need it, then need it and not have it. You never know what situation you might find yourself into down the road, so why not be prepared for it ahead of time?
I'm thinking with the amps you've discussed, either the Ampeg BA210v2 or the Rumble 500 combos would be the top contenders, as far as the power/portability/features/price ratios go. Of course, there's probably a million others out there, like GK, Hartke, and all of that, as well, but at least that's two to start with.
Personally, I'd a bit partial with the Fender, simply because I have an older version with a Rumble 350 combo, which the 500 replaced, and it's a pretty decent combo, which I've used in various situations, including live. It's not my main amp, now (that would be an Orange Terror Bass 1000 stack,) but I wouldn't hesitate to use it again.
I'm thinking with the amps you've discussed, either the Ampeg BA210v2 or the Rumble 500 combos would be the top contenders, as far as the power/portability/features/price ratios go. Of course, there's probably a million others out there, like GK, Hartke, and all of that, as well, but at least that's two to start with.
Personally, I'd a bit partial with the Fender, simply because I have an older version with a Rumble 350 combo, which the 500 replaced, and it's a pretty decent combo, which I've used in various situations, including live. It's not my main amp, now (that would be an Orange Terror Bass 1000 stack,) but I wouldn't hesitate to use it again.
Hi. Get a Carvin 300watt pro combow 18ins speekers great sound with EQ and best of all it's very light. You should get one cheap but still have a great sound in small rooms to open air gigs great low end if you see one give it a try you can't go wrong happy bass times.
In that price range, I have tried the Fender's combo with my Stingray 5 and found them liking a good push in the low end. A bass amp has to have 4 times the power of a guitar amp in order to support the band properly. Whitout trying it I bought a Hartke KB 12 advertised as 500 watts. I wish I could have tried the Roland 120. When I tried my new Hartke, I realized it was not 500 w RMS but a max output of 170w RMS really. Again it lacked the push I like. So I then forgot about combos and unpacked my GK 400 with a good 12" cab (bought in 2010). That pushed but not best for slap.
My big amp is a GK2001RB. That will do anything and is not muddy like some other big amps. I played in a bar with just a 2x10 NEO and I got all kind of compliments about my "monster bass sound". At home I also have a 1x15 Electrovoice and the walls vibrate.
For portability I would suggest the GK MB 800 with a 2x10 NEO cab, I know that it is still 2 pieces but what a sound and will cost around $1200. You will come on top of the band as the bass should. I used one in a bar, hooked to 2 2x4 10 cab, and the floor was shaking when playing on my B and E strings.
I have tried other amps in that price range but they are no match. GK growls, period!
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I'm running a Fender Rumble 500 V3 head with one Bergantino AE112 (or two as required). The price point of the Fender head is good and I love its sound. If you must go combo, I'd go for the Fender Rumble 500 with 2x10s. Lightweight, and lots of oomph.
I know a guy gigging multiple times a week with a Rumble 100, sounds great and is light as feather (or close enough).
If the sounds and the costs are equal, consider the weight.
If the sounds and the costs are equal, consider the weight.
I bought one in June. The Scrambler section is amazing. Best combo I ever bought!
I use a Fender Rumble 100 with the 12" speaker. I gig around the St. Louis area. It is a great punchy amp, lightweight about 20 pounds!!! I use a jazz, jazz V, and a p_bass...they all sound great even the V. I play all styles of music and it has not let me down in any venue. It does have an XLR out that if needed is run to the board. I paid $299 for it and it has paid itself off many times over.
Whatever route you go here......who says you have to stick to the same manufacturer for an extension cab? Now staying with the same brand DOES bode well for keeping the same sound profile but.....consider the possibility of adding a bit of tonal difference and reinforcement by using a complimentary cab.
Just a suggestion to consider.
It seems best to use two cabs that perform similarly, can handle similar amounts of power and have similar efficiencies. Jim Bergantino encourages people to mix say his 1-12 and 2-10 cabs from the same product line as they will perform similarly and one will not fart out before the other. Beware of mixing cabs that perform differently, particularly ones that cannot handle roughly the same power or where one is much less efficient.
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You may wish to listen to a Warwick combo. Their sound is transparent with a clean and deep low end. Perhaps not the first brand one thinks of when we talk about amps but they do sound.
Warwick BC 150
I've gigged for years with a simple (and cheap) Ampeg BA-115 that had only 100 watts. I really liked its "old school" sound, very deep and full. The only thing I missed was its lack of power. A couple of times I used an SQ pedal to boost the sound. I played so loud that the amp started "walking" across the stage so I had to weigh it down with something heavy ... sometimes me! I still have it ... although it stopped working about four years ago.
I haven't played the Orange amp. I've played the new Rumbles and was really impressed. But as others have said, it's wise to have enough power onboard, especially if you like a lot of clean headroom.
But only an Ampeg has that Ampeg sound. But the Rumble is very nice on its own and a good bargain, too.
My playing days are over but I would still say that I'm impressed with the newer 12-inch speakers. Sure they are sort of compromise speaker without the lows of the 15-inchers and the highs of the 10s, but I still think they are OK just by themselves. But if it's a 15-incher vs. two 10s, I'd still go for the 15 incher.
I haven't played the Orange amp. I've played the new Rumbles and was really impressed. But as others have said, it's wise to have enough power onboard, especially if you like a lot of clean headroom.
But only an Ampeg has that Ampeg sound. But the Rumble is very nice on its own and a good bargain, too.
My playing days are over but I would still say that I'm impressed with the newer 12-inch speakers. Sure they are sort of compromise speaker without the lows of the 15-inchers and the highs of the 10s, but I still think they are OK just by themselves. But if it's a 15-incher vs. two 10s, I'd still go for the 15 incher.
Look for a secondhand Trace GR7 200 get it service and refurbished it will beat those three hands down I have it's a monster cost me £200 about $260 dollars for the Amp and to get it refurbished if that ain't loud enough you'll need 2 fenders to match it
Okay,My Friend...this is ALL to be said. You have ONE choice, a few variables, a couple options, VERY little dance floor,an open artery and what sounds like lower back issues(!). With all that in your pocket, it is certainly No surprise you wanna lower your standards and raise your quality. Ain't gonna happen. There are Sooo many ACTUAL MUSICIANS in this quandary with you...ONE of them has a Solid Clue. They just haven't spoken up yet. Weight, cost, projective range, blah,blah,blah. You won't find Everything your lil heart desires until you load Full Rig. So far I've heard Nothing but names being thrown around like boomerang. Tell me...have you found the voice you're Willing to adhere to? I optioned the Eden for the VERY same reason most of these other 4 string studs haven't even mentioned it! Ergo they don't(obviously?) think it has what it takes...or they're ignorant and have no clue- Sorry guys. Listen...do YOUR OWN HOMEWORK(Thoroughly) and the Satisfaction you seek will BE the Satisfaction you earned. Peace.
Crud, I must have mixed it up with the BA210v2 in that aspect. Thanks for the correction, I'll adjust my note above accordingly!
To know what you will be happy with, you are going to have to play your bass through all of them. You will find out that certain basses sound better than others through certain rigs. I've owned Rumbles and they generally sound OK with just about any bass. However, I have a dual humbucker Musicman that I was never really happy with the way it sounded through a Rumble. However, it sounds fantastic through a Kustom 200 that I have. Edens are also good amps. I also have a TC Electronics 250w 15" combo that all my Fender Jazzes sound pretty good through. The bottom line is you are going to have to play your bass(es) through all of them to find out what sounds good to you.
There are quite a few choices when it comes to really good combo amps. If you're not into paying the price of a new one you can get a really dependable amp, "old school" pretty cheap. I've had good luck with guitar center's used section. Anyway I would recommend the SWR workingman's series 12 or 15" models. 120 watts, plenty of power, line out and great sound. Also the 2X10 red line is a great amp for more $. Markbass makes some really good, light weight combo amps, bought my son a Jeff Berlin 15 and have used several times out. The Ampeg ba-115 is a fine choice, as is the Fender Rumble. If you're really old school there are old Peavy TNTs out there, heavy but dependable and will get it done. That's my take on this, I've used most of the mentioned amps and for the price of used can pay for themselves in 2 or 3 gigs. Best of luck.
You may want to add Peavey Max series to your list I have a Max 112 200w with 1- 12" it is amazing. The Max 115 1-15" also in your price range is 300 watts good luck RTS
